Major record labels join for Japan relief album

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LONDON (Reuters) - The world’s four leading record labels have lent hit tracks to an album released on Friday to raise funds for the Japanese Red Cross Society following this month’s earthquake and tsunami.

Lead singer Bono of Irish rock band U2 performs during their 360 Degree Tour at the La Cartuja stadium in the Andalusian capital of Seville September 30, 2010. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

What started off as an initiative by Universal Music, the world’s biggest record company, has turned into an industry-wide collaboration. The result is the 38-track “Songs for Japan.”

Universal said it was handling the servicing of the digital album, while Sony Music would produce a physical version provisionally set to hit stores on April 4.

Featured on the album, available on the iTunes Store for $9.99, are artists including John Lennon (“Imagine”), U2 (“Walk On”), Bob Dylan (“Shelter From the Storm”), Lady Gaga (“Born This Way”) and Bruce Springsteen (“Human Touch”).

Participating artists, music labels and music publishers have waived their royalties and proceeds from global sales, and iTunes has also said it would donate its proceeds from the album to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

The 9.0 magnitude quake on March 11 and giant waves it triggered left more than 10,000 people dead and 17,500 missing.